Means for packing thermometer tubes and the like



A. C. BRUNS April 1, 1941.

MEANS FOR PACKING THERMOMETER TUBES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 17, 1939 IN\" ENTOR. AW

WWW B Q A TTRNEY.

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 MEANS FOR- PACKING THERMOMETEP, TUBES AND THE LIKE Anthony Charles Bruns, Cincinnati, Ohio, as-

signor to The Palmer Company, Norwood, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application August 17, 1939, Serial No. 290,656

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in the method of and means for packaging a glass tube or rod product, particularly thermometers.

It is the general practice to package thermometers individually in a cylindrical container of wood or other material for either storage or shipping. For the larger length or sizes, to avoid breakage, it is necesary to pack the thermometer in a manner to avoid undue vibration or play while allowing suflicient freedom for its convenient removal or insertion, and that it be held sufficiently, by friction, so that it will not slip from an open end of the container by gravity. The methods heretofore employed have either been costly or failed to serve to an adequate extent. For long tubes it is essential to have them cushion supported for approximately their full length or at least for the portion of its length that eXtends into the hollow of the container. The body of the container is usually of a length for a given size of thermometer to allow its head end to protrude slightly therebeyond to obtain a finger hold thereon, and which is enclosed by the cover of the container telescopically engaged with the open end of the container body.

It is an object of the invention to provide a convenient, simple, exceedingly cheap, and very effective method and means permitting expeditious packaging of a thermometer or similar glass product within the hollow of the body of a cylindrical like container to cushion and bolster the full of its length therein to protect the same from vibrating, relieve jarring, and prevent its slippage therefrom by gravity, thereby to reduce and avoid breakage in its carriage and handling.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in a description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a cylindrical container with a thermometer packaged therein, with a compress strip of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the upper part of the package shown in Figure 1, taken at a diiferent angle.

Figure 3 is a section of the upper part of the body of the container with the compress strip inserted and showing the bulb end of a thermometer in the act of thermometer insertion nto the container body alongside of the compress strip.

Figure 4. is an enlarged section on line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a central vertical section similar to Figure 1, disclosing a tubular form of compress strip.

Figure '7 is an enlarged section on line ll, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 7 with the thermometer tube omitted.

Referring to the drawing, l indicates a conventional wooden cylindrical container, generally employed for packaging large length or size thermometers, closed at one end, and its opposite end open, and externally reduced for telescopically receiving a cover section 2. The cover section has a bore of a diameter corresponding to the reduced end of the container body to telescopically engage thereover, and an external, diameter coinciding with that of the container body. The diameter of the hollow of the body of the container is slightly in excess of the thermometer to be packaged therein, and therefore requires some form of cushioning to pack the tube against vibration and avoid breakage thereof.

The present improvement is particularly directed to packaging an unmounted thermometer which the user, usually to guard against breakage and for storage, re-inserts in the container after each use.

To compactly and yieldingly sustain the thermometer for approximately the full length of the container body, and to allow the thermometer to be conveniently, effectively, and repeatedly inserted and withdrawn, a compress is wedgingly interposed between the thermometer. The compress comprises a wedge strip, preferably of a paper material, longitudinally of channel or other cross-sectional form, to render the same yieldingly compressible and applicable lengthwise within a container to be wedged between the thermometer and opposing wall of the container upon inserting the thermometer into the container alongside of the wedge strip, cushioning the thermometer tube against vibration and retarding relative longitudinal movement of the packaged parts.

The compress strip 3, shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, is composed of a strip of card paper material, bent longitudinally into channel form, as v-shape in cross-section. The limbs 4, 4, may be either of corresponding or uneven width, and of a dimension sufiicient to be easily slipped and stationed within the container and compressed upon sliding the thermometer tube alongside thereof into the container, wedging the strip be tween the opposing objects to retain the tube compactly within the container. The compress in the use of the thermometer.

strip is of a length to reach the full depth of the container and extend slightly beyond the top open end thereof to facilitate in the insertion of the thermometer tube.

The strip may contain any printed advertising matter or indicia to the benefit of the user In the form shown, in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, the compress strip is of tubular construction of a spirally wound strip. 1

The strip is preferably treated or coated with a wax or acid resisting material to preserve and stiffen the same and increase the coefiicient of friction.

The compress strip is exceedingly cheap and eflicient and its cost per container is practically negligible.

Having described my invention, I claim:

An article for compactly packaging a thermometer tube or fragile rod-like product within a cylindrical container, comprising: in combination with a cylindrical container, a channel strip of approximately V-shape in cross section, longitudinally providing a pair of opposing limbs, the limbs of relatively different width and the strip of a length in excess of the content depth of the container to project beyond its open end, and adapted to be wedgingly interposed between the thermometer and opposing wall of the container, with the shorter width limb of the strip in hear ing contact with the wall of the container, and the larger Width limb in bearing contact with the thermometer, its greater width providing an edge contact with the interior of the container for maintaining said limbs in spaced relation to sustain the thermometer against injurious vibration and resist movement longitudinally by gravity.

ANTHONY CHARLES BRUNS. 

